Machine for flattening tobacco-stems



(No Model.)

I. W. G. WIERMAN. MACHINE FOR FLATTEN'ING TOBACCO STEMS.

No. 497,437. Patented May 16, 1893.

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Nrrno 'TATES ferrosi ATENT MACHINE FR FLATTElNlN-G TOBACCO-STEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,437, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed May 20, 1892. Serial No. 433,754. (No model.) l

To all whom zit may concern,.-

Be it known thatI, IsAAo W.G.W1ERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Flattening Tobacco-Stems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for fiattening tobacco stems, either in the leaf or separated therefrom, to prepare the stems for v veying the tobacco to the rolls and heating.

use as fillers for cigars and cigarettes, or for other purposes.

I have found that the stems may be prepared without injuring the fiber of the tobacco by subjecting them to several successive pressing operations between rolls. I preferably provide means for heating the rolls. The tobacco stems contain more or less moist ure which when heated by the rollsrenders the stems more pliable and less likely to be injured in flattening.

To this end my invention consists in improvements in a machine provided with two or more sets of rolls and with means for conthem, all of which will be hereinafter' described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference signs indicate' simila r parts throughout the several views, Figure l is a side view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, one of the rollsbeiug shown in central section. Fig. 4 is asectional view taken on the line X-X of Fig. 2.

Journaled in the frame A are two pairs of pressure rolls B, B', and C, C. The rolls B C', have their journals set in fixed bearings b', c', in the frame; andthe rolls B, C, are journaled in movable bearings or boxes b, c, which slide in guides b2, c2, formed on the frame.

Means are prov ided for adj ustingthe rolls B, C, to bear upon the rolls B', C', with any desired pressure. Thus cap pieces D which bridge the spaces between the guides b2 and c2 are bolted or otherwise suitably fastened to the main frame, and through these cap pieces are threaded.perforations in which are adjusting screws CZ provided with hand wheels d.

The lower ends of the adjusting Screws bear` the drawings I have shown hollow rolls which are openl at one end, between their axes and l their peripheries -'permitting steam induction and eduction pipes e, f, to supply the stationary heating coils E within the rolls.

The rolls may be driven in any suitable mannersueh as by sprocket wheelsand chains or by ordinary gearing. As shown they are driven by a train of gears g from a power shaft H provided with fastl and loose pulleys For small machines a hand-crank may be substituted for the pulleys h, h.' The two pairs of pressure rolls are arranged one above the otheraud the tobacco is fed to the upper pair of rolls by an inclined chtite I. The angle of inclination of the chute I is adjustable, the lower end being pivotally connected to a pair of supported and the upper end adjustably connected to a pair of supports t. edges of the chute and in the supports t permits of the angular adjustment of the chute.

Between the corresponding rolls of the upper and lower sets I arrange Scrapers 7c consisting of plates centrally connected to shafts 7c and having their upper and lower edges bearing respectively upon the upper and lower rolls. Weights k2 are adjustably attached to arms la3 which are fixed upon the pivoted shafts k. These weights serve to keep the edges of the Scrapers pressed with a yielding pressure against the faces of the rolls. A second pair of sera persmare located below the lower rolls. The pivotal shafts m of these Scrapers are provided with arms m2 extending toward each other and connected by a link m3. A rod n is connected to the middle of the link m and extends upwardly through a lug n. The rod a is continually pressed upward by a coiled spring n2 which is confined between the lug and an adjustable nut a3 upon the upper end ofthe rod n. As the rod n is drawn upward by the spring the Scrapers m are pressed with A series of holes 2 in thev a yielding pressure against the surfaces of the rolls.

The operation of the machine is quite simple and will be obvious from the foregoing description. The tobacco to be pressed is placed bythe operator upon the inclined chute from which it slides down and passes between the rolls of the upper set.. These rolls partly flatten or compress it. After passing the first pair of rolls the tobacco drops endwise between the second pair of rolls which are adj usted cioser togetherand complete the pressing operation. Should anyof the tobacco adhere to the upper rolls it will be scraped olf by the upper edges ot' the Scrapers 7s and fall upon the surfaces of the lower rolls, the scrapers k which extend from the upper to the lower rolls thus preventing any of the tobacco from falling outside of the lower rolls. The scrapers m and the lower edges ofthe scrapers 7c will effectually separate all of the tobacco from the rolls and cause it to fall into a suitable receptacle placed beneath the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In a machine for flattening tobacco stems, the combination of two pairs of rolls,one pair being arranged directly above the other, and Scrapers 7a centrally pivoted and each arranged to bear upon an upper and lower roll, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for flattening tobacco stems the combination of pressure rolls having journals and bearings at both ends,y said rollers being hollow and open at one end between their axes and their peripheries, and stationary heating coils within the rolls having connecting pipes extending through the open ends thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC \V. G. VIERMAN.

Witnesses:

W. W. Glens, ALBERT COHEN. 

